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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Rigging tension

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michaelj
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132 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/15/2009 : 08:08:11

Is there anywhere I can go to find the recommended tension for the rigging on my Cat 25? Thanks.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2009 : 08:19:48

You can start by "Search"ing for all the arguments on rig tuning right here...

First question: Racer or cruiser? Then, adjustable (split) or fixed backstay?

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 12/15/2009 08:20:57

Sloop Smitten
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Response Posted - 12/15/2009 : 08:25:36

Bill Holcomb submited a good description of how to tune a C25. This is easier to comprehend if your reading it while sitting in your cockpit.

[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.com/tech/tech25/snkmast.asp"]Rig Tuning[/url]

Edited by - Sloop Smitten on 12/15/2009 08:26:23

pastmember
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Response Posted - 12/15/2009 : 08:34:04

Bottom line is plumb athwartship, raked aft a couple of inches, and balanced tension on like stays. How much tension is up to you.

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Steve Milby
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Response Posted - 12/15/2009 : 08:54:00

I believe the manufacturer of Loos gauges furnishes a printed sheet with recommended tensions that are considered adequate for most boats.

However, most sailors don't use a Loos gauge to tension their rigging, and I'm not convinced that using a Loos gauge is any better than what I would describe as "performance tuning." When you tune the rig for performance, you adjust it so that it behaves in the way it should behave. The overall idea of rig tuning is that the mast should be erect both fore and aft and laterally, raked properly, and the stays should be tensioned just enough to keep the mast from moving excessively, and yet not so taut as to put excessive stress on the chainplates.

Therefore, to find the correct amount of tension without the need of a Loos gauge, you should adjust the rig so that the rig is reasonably rigid, while the stays are less than bar-tight. Then, sail the boat in 12-15 knot winds, and check the tension of the stays on both tacks. If the leeward stays become slack, increase the tension slightly by the same number of turns on each side, until the leeward stays are just slightly relaxed, without being slack. When they perform in that manner, you'll know that they are taut enough, but not too taut, so as to damage the chainplates.

In short, you can tension the stays so that they perform in the manner that a well-tuned rig should perform.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 12/15/2009 08:55:43

Voyager
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Response Posted - 12/15/2009 : 19:01:53

I've found that all my stays and shrouds get much "looser" in the cold months than in summer.

I'm not certain, but I'd guess that aluminum (the mast) shrinks more in the cold than the stainless steel stays and shrouds.

Last winter, I worried about the lack of tension in the rig, but by spring, they had all come back to normal tension.

During the warm months, the mast sits perpendicular side to side at the slip. When I sail, the leeward shrouds visibly slacken.

Also during summer, the mast is raked ever-so-slightly aft and the single backstay is not taut by any means. On a run I'll notice the backstay get a little tighter.

But right now, during the cold, my backstay is wobbly as heck.

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jerlim
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Response Posted - 12/16/2009 : 14:36:59

Wow...are you still sailing?

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Voyager
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Response Posted - 12/16/2009 : 21:32:53

Nope, way too chilly - she's up on the hard in the yard - I just visit her pretty frequently and noticed the backstay being loose.

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Voyager
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Response Posted - 12/26/2009 : 13:26:00

I stopped off at the boat a day or two ago, and noticed the bolt holding my port side upper shroud to the chainplate was BENT -- it was bent about 30-45 degrees! I don't know when it may have happened, or what may have caused it.

It was bent in a curved manner, as opposed to kinked. Nonetheless, it has to be replaced.

So now I'm wondering what the model # it is, or where to get one? Is it a CD item, or something available at West Marine?

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 12/26/2009 : 14:29:54

Bolt?? Are you referring to the clevis pin through the toggle under the turnbuckle? It's hard for me to imagine that bending, but if that's what it is, it should be a standard size clevis pin available in the SS fastener section at WM or other chandlery. I always had a few spares. (I still have them--just in case I need to rig a mast on Sarge...)

Now the real question is why?? I wonder if your rig was loose enough (based on the earlier post) that there were some shock-loads when it swayed in the breeze? Any issues the starboard side? Can you post a pic of the bent "bolt" in place?

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 12/26/2009 14:34:19

Voyager
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Response Posted - 12/26/2009 : 15:51:35

Dave
To take a photo, I'll have to take a trip down to the boat when it's light out.
I tend to believe that a line may have caused it, as I typically wrap fender and dock lines around the shrouds while on the slip.
I looked at West Marine and noted a "T-Bolts with Toggle", which looks somewhat like the "bolt". The page is found at
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/11247/377%20710%202069/0/Rigging%20Terminals/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/10/0?N=377 710 2069&Ne=0&Ntt=Rigging Terminals&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=130&subdeptNum=10902&classNum=10902#

Edited by - Voyager on 12/27/2009 16:32:52

Voyager
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Response Posted - 12/27/2009 : 16:31:29

I checked it today and the T-bolt is bent just below where it enters the turnbuckle. The toggle looks fine, as does the clevis pin. I measured the bolt and it was approx 3.5" - 4" long. I will take a ride down to my local West Marine to see whether they have a replacement in stock. I assume that when I go ahead and replace it, I will have to release the upper shroud which could put a strain on the lower shrouds. I believe it is possible to tie an icicle hitch around the upper shroud and secure that to the chainplate before I release the clevis pin holding the upper shroud in place.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 12/27/2009 : 16:41:34

Bruce: When you want to post a long URL, Copy it; then in your post, type a few words to represent it, change the Format Mode above to Prompt, highlight your words, click

, and paste the URL into the box that appears.

Now I see what you mean by the "bolt"--that makes more sense. There are at least three reasons never to use your shrouds for fenders and dock-lines, especially where you dock Passage. Now you know one of them!

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Voyager
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Response Posted - 12/27/2009 : 16:48:49

HTML is OFF, Forum Code is ON. How do you switch it?

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 12/27/2009 : 17:08:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 HTML is OFF, Forum Code is ON. How do you switch it?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Why? I'm guessing "we" can't (or aren't supposed to). "Forum Code" probably covers the various functions like "quote" and "link", which Snitz translates to HTML.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 12/27/2009 17:15:51

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